SILICON VALLEY: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC said Monday that it will acquire US video game studio Bungie Inc., known for making titles such as “Halo” and “Destiny,” for 3.6 billion dollars.

Sony Group Corp. will utilize its “diverse array of entertainment and technology assets to support further evolution of Bungie,” Kenichiro Yoshida, chairman, president and CEO of the parent of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in a statement.

“This is an important step in our strategy to expand the reach of PlayStation to a much wider audience,” Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said of Sony’s video game console.

In Sony Interactive Entertainment, “we have found a partner that fully supports us and wants to accelerate our vision of creating meaningful entertainment experiences that span generations,” Bungie Chairman and CEO Pete Parsons said.

Sony’s move came after rival Microsoft Corp. said on Jan. 18 that it will acquire game studio Activision Blizzard for 68.7 billion dollars.

JIJI Press